Adjustable punch holder



Dec. 9, 1969 A. EINHORN 3,482,478

ADJUSTABLE PUNCH HOLDER Filed Nov. 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l Moving Web 18 flu. e a... x

INVENTOR Aaron Einhorn BY M ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1969 A. EINHORN 3,482,478

ADJUS TABLE PUNCH HOLDER Filed NOV. 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 'm l g 32 I 1 1*] z II \i HI FIG. 5.

INVENTOR Aaron Einhorn ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,482,478 ADJUSTABLE PUNCH HOLDER Aaron Einhorn, Passaic, NJ. Premier Bag Company, Inc., 700 Pennsylvania Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ. 07071) Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,309

Int. Cl. B26f 1/20 U.S. Cl. 83-100 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of invention The present invention relates to an adjustable punch holder for punching holes in moving webs of paper, film, and other such surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable punch holder, mountable on a disc assembly, and containing a hollow cylindrical punch with adjusting means for radially adjusting the punch.

Description of the prior art In the field of punch holders, it has been the general practice to employ solid punches which mate with hollow dies for punching holes in moving webs. Such devices have proved unsatisfactory since they require very accurate mating of the punch with the die. In addition, such devices have displayed a marked lack of adjustability. Furthermore, the prior art devices have displayed a lack of easy access to the working parts for adjustment and maintenance.

The accumulation of cuttings in the vicinity of the punch holder creates problems. The random scattering of such cuttings tends to get in the way of the punch during subsequent cuttings thereby rendering such cuttings nonuniform. In addition, the scattering of cuttings causes the work area to be untidy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustable punch holder which embraces all the advantages of similarly employed prior art devices and possesses none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. To attain this, the present invention provides a punch holder made of a ring segment mountable on a disc, and containing a radial hole therethrough. A hollow cylindrical punch is fitted through the outer end of the hole and a hollow adjusting screw is threaded through the end of the hole directed toward the center of the disc. The punch may be radially adjusted by simply turning the adjusting screw. The punch may be held in place by a set screw, and the adjusting screw may be secured by a jam nut.

An anvil comprising a hard surface is suitably mounted on the circumference of a mating disc. The anvil may be a thin small piece of hardened stainless steel which may be attached to the surface of the mating disc by adhesive tape or other means. The position of such an anvil on the circumference of the mating cylinder may be easily altered by removing the adhesive tape to which the anvil is attached and causing it to adhere to a different position on 3,482,478 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 the disc. This feature of the anvil avoids the necessity for accurate alignment of the punch with the anvil. The disc containing the punch assembly as well as the disc having the anvil are rotated in synchronism at a predetermined speed while a web is moved between them to achieve the desired punching of the moving web. The cuttings pass through the hollow cyindrical punch and then through the hollow adjusting screw having an inside diameter equal to at least that of the cylindrical punch, and are disposed of through the head of the adjusting screw.

A suction device may be arranged whereby the cuttings are removed through the hollow punch and disposed of in a suitable receptacle. According to such an arrangement, a shaft having a vacuum chamber is mounted through the center of the disc carrying the punch holder. A tube made of some suitable material, such as rubber or plastic, connects a sleeve of the adjusting screw with the vacuum chamber of the shaft. The tube is connected to the vacuum chamber by a suitable fitting. A rotary coupling connects the vacuum chamber to a suction pump having a receptacle wherein the cuttings are collected.

Thus the invention is capable of disposing of the punched cuttings with ease and avoids the accumulation of a number of cuttings at the head of the punch which would render subsequent cuttings non-uniform. The vacuum arrangement is particularly useful in disposing of the cuttings as well as keeping the work area tidy. It is seen that the punch can be radially adjusted outwardly by simply turning the adjusting screw, thereby urging the punch outward. The punch is radially adjustable inwardly by simply turning the adjusting screw in the opposite direction with the pressure from the anvil urging the punch inwardly to the desired position. Furthermore, the circumferential position of the punch holder may be adjusted on the disc.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide adjustable punch holding means for punching holes in moving webs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for easily adjusting the radial and circumferential position of a punch mounted on a disc assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide hollow punching means which allows easy escape of the cuttings to prevent an accumulation of cuttings at the head of the punch from rendering subsequent punches non-uniform.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide vacuum means operative in conjunction with hollow punching means to dispose of the cuttings in order to prevent an accumulation of cuttings at the head of the punch from rendering subsequent punches non-uniform and to prevent the work area from becoming untidy.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide hollow tube punching means operative in conjunction with an anvil which avoids the necessity of accuracy of mating inherent in prior art solid punching means with their associated conventional dies.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide punching means arranged to permit easy access to the working parts for adjustment.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along line 22 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3 is a diagram of the punch assembly and anvil mounted on the associated disc assembly.

3 FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram of the present invention containing the vacuum arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGURES l and 4, there is shown a punch holder having an opening 11 on the outward surface through which a punch 12 is fitted. Punch 12 is a hollow cylindrical punch. A threaded member 13 is fitted through hole 14 on the inward side of segment 10. Threaded member 13 comprises essentially a hollow screw having a hollow head 15. The inside diameter of the screw and head is equal to at least that of hollow punch 12. Screw 13 may be secured by a jam nut 17 and punch 12 may be secured by a set screw 18.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the embodiment of the adjustable punch holder shown in FIGURE 1 attached to disc 20. A bolt 21 is threaded through disc 20 and hole 19 of segment 10.

FIGURE 3 is an illustration of the adjustable punch holder operative in conjunction with a disc assembly. sometimes referred to as a spider, having a disc 20 with the punch holder attached to disc 20 as shown. The disc assembly contains a second disc 22 having an anvil 23 constructed of a suitable material such as stainless steel. Anvil 23 is attached to the surface of disc 22 by suitable means such as a piece of adhesive tape 25. A web 24 of either paper or film or any such similar substance is moved between the two discs 20 and 22. The punch holder may be attached at any location along the circumference of disc 20 so that punch 12 and anvil 23 face moving web 24 at the same time to enable punch 12 to punch a hole in the moving web against anvil 23.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a vacuum arrangement operable to dispose of the cuttings. A shaft 27 having a vacuum chamber 28 is connected through the center of disc 20. The shaft has a fitting 29 and a tube 30 made of a suitable material such as rubber or plastic which connects the vacuum chamber 28 at the fitting 29 with threaded member 13 at sleeve 26. A rotary coupling 33 connects one end of a tube 31 with vacuum chamber 28. The other end of tube 31 is connected to a suitable suction device 32 such as a vacuum motor having a receptacle.

In the operation of the invention, web 24 is moved between discs 20 and 22 and holes are punched when punch 12 is opposite anvil 23. The cuttings from the punched holes pass through punch 12 and then through screw 13. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5 having the vacuum arrangement, a vacuum is maintained in chamber 28 which removes the cuttings from screw 13 through tube 30, through the chamber 28. The suction device 32 draws the cuttings through tube 31 and deposits them in a receptacle (not shown) in the suction device.

It is seen from FIGURES 1 and 4 that punch 12 may be longitudinally adjusted by simply turning screw 13. If punch 12 is not attached to screw 13, it may be adjusted outwardly by turning screw 13 to push punch 12 outwardly. The punch may be adjusted inwardly by turning screw 13 in the opposite direction and utilizing the pressure from anvil 23 to urge punch 12 in the opposite direction. The punch holder segment 10 may be adjusted circumferentially around disc 20 to accommodate any desired punching requirements.

It is apparent from FIGURE 1 that the cuttings from the moving web 24 shown in FIGURE 3 move through the center. of hollow punch 12 and through the center of hollow screw 13. The fact that the anvil is attached to adhesive tape which may be arrangedto adhere to disc 22 at any location on its circumference avoids the problem of accurate alignment of the punch and die which is inherent in prior art devices. The vacuum arrangement insures continuous disposal of the cuttings to thereby maintain uniform punching and keep the work area clean. Furthermore, the very nature of the assembly enables easy access to the working parts for adjustment.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, although the adjustable punch holder has been shown in FIGURE 3 to be operative in conjunction with a disc or spider assembly, it is entirely feasible to mount the punch holder on any rotating assembly having two rotating members such as rigid bars. One member of the assembly would have punch holder 10 attached to it and the second member would have anvil 23 attached to it and the rotation would be synchronized so that punch 12 and anvil 23 would both be opposite the moving web at the same point of time. In addition, although both members of the disc assembly have been shown to be coplanar, the planes of rotation of the two rotating members may be at any angle with each other provided the punch and anvil are opposite the moving web at the same point of time. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable punch holder assembly operable in conjunction with a rotating assembly, having two members, for punching holes in a moving web comprising:

a hollow cylindrical punch;

a punch holder having an opening through which said hollow cylindrical punch is fitted;

hollow adjustment means fitted through said opening for longitudinal adjustment of said hollow cylindrical punch;

attachment means for attaching said punch to the first member of said rotating assembly; and

an anvil arranged on the second member of said rotating assembly;

whereby the cuttings cut from said moving web escape through the center of said hollow cylindrical punch and thence through said hollow adjustment means.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said punch holder comprises a ring segment and is attached to said first member of said rotating assembly so that said opening is radially directed through the center of rotation of said first member of said rotating assembly.

3. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said first member of said rotating assembly is a disc.

4. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said second member of said rotating assembly is a disc.

5. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said first member of said rotating assembly is a disc.

6. The device as described in claim 5 wherein said second member of said rotating assembly is a disc.

7. The device as described in claim 6 wherein said first and second disc members are coplanar and wherein said anvil is arranged along the circumference of said second disc.

8. The device as described in claim 7 wherein said hollow adjustment means comprises a threaded member.

9. An adjustable punch holder assembly operable in conjunction with a rotating assembly, having two members, for punching holes in a moving web comprising:

a hollow cylindrical punch;

a punch holder having an opening through which said hollow cylindrical punch is fitted;

hollow adjustment means fitted through said opening for longitudinal adjustment of said hollow cylindrical punch;

suction means connected to said hollow adjustment means for removing cuttings cut from said moving Web through the center of said hollow cylindrical punch and thence through said hollow adjustment means;

attachment means for attaching said punch to the first member of said rotating assembly; and an anvil arranged on the second member of said rotating assembly. 10. The device as described in claim 9 wherein said suction means comprises:

a vacuum chamber; a tube connecting said vacuum chamber and said hollow adjustment means; and a suction pump connected to said vacuum chamber for maintaining a vacuum in said chamber. 11. The device as described in claim 10 wherein said vacuum chamber is mounted on said first member of said rotating assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

